Melinda & Sawyer's Wedding at The Venue

February 14, 2018

"Sawyer and I met in the eighth grade. After spending several years as close friends, he finally asked me on an official date in December of 2010. We were each other’s best friend and felt so blessed to begin a relationship built on that friendship. From the start, we knew that the Lord was writing our story so beautifully and that one day we would be married. After graduating high school, we both moved away to college and started what would be a five-year long-distance relationship. This brought on countless challenges, but the Lord was faithful through it all and He used those years to help us grow together and as individuals. We endured tragedy, celebrated successes, and made the best of memories. We spent those years cherishing the little opportunities to spend time together and learning to trust God’s plans which were bigger and better than we could have imagined.

After graduating from Auburn, Sawyer was blessed with a job that would be taking him to Paris, France for an orientation. Things fell into place so that I was able to join him on the trip. We were both beyond excited to explore this beautiful city together. The morning after we arrived, Sawyer had planned for us to go take pictures with his new camera in front of the Eiffel Tower at the Trocadéro. Sawyer had been to Paris before, but this would be my first time seeing the Eiffel Tower so I could not wait! To avoid the crowds, we went early in the morning when the sun was just coming up. When we arrived, I was in awe at the sight of the tower and the chance to be there with my favorite person in the world. As I’m taking all of this in, Sawyer takes my hands and begins telling me how much he loves me and that he cannot wait to take on the rest of our lives together, whatever comes our way. Then he dropped to one knee and proposed with a ring straight out of my dreams that he had designed for me. It was more perfect than I could have ever imagined! I couldn’t cry. I couldn’t speak. All I could do was smile. The biggest smile I had ever smiled. Then finally, I was able to produce at least one syllable….YES!

Little did I know, a sweet Parisian photographer named Antoine was set up taking photos of the entire moment. Sawyer had been in contact with him the weeks before and Antoine was secretly ready and waiting to capture it all. We all shared hugs and laughs and then spent the morning taking fun engagement photos. After taking pictures, we strolled across the Seine River to the gardens beneath the Eiffel Tower and had a delicious crepe and mimosa breakfast. It was the most magical morning spent soaking in our new engagement and already getting so excited for the wedding to come!

Fast forward to just two and a half months later and it was our wedding day! An absolutely beautiful Saturday afternoon on the 3rd of December. We were overwhelmed with joy as the day we had been waiting on for nearly 6 years had finally arrived. Our wedding day was a vivid picture of the Lord’s faithfulness to us as we made promises to Him and to one another, and danced the night away surrounded by the people we love most."